Monday, May 7, 2012

I gave in

This weekend I did what I vowed I’d never to do. (Hanging head in
shame.) But the pressure just became too much. It was too constant and then my
mother-in-law became involved and imparted even more pressure. Sometimes you
have to choose your battles and I was just too overwhelmed from all angles.
Yes, I did it. I took my kids to Chuck E. Cheese’s. (Turning head and sobs.)

You may wonder what I have against this place where a Kid Can Be A
Kid. You may think I’m being foolish to deny my kids this basic childhood
memory. But have you seen all the news articles about the horrors that happen
at this place? What about the family
feud at the birthday party? Or the one about the poor
little girl left behind? Or the 50-year-old
grandmother beaten while attending her grandson’s birthday? Dude,
seriously? No thanks. If I want my children exposed to the inhumanity of our existence
I will read them the Bible.

But Bud has seen the commercials (damn you successful marketing
strategies!) and whenever we drive by our local establishment (and by local I
mean 40 minutes away where we do all our shopping) he begs and pleads that it’s
all he’s ever wanted to do (!!!). Then! Then it happened. His grandma nonchalantly
suggested that she might take Babe and their cousin (same age as Babe) to visit
Chuck. Cue meltdown. And cue grandmotherly guilt. Grandma promised she wouldn’t
take Babe without him. Wonderful. Only problem is he is in school all day and
the point of taking Babe was to have something to do during the day when she
watches the girls. Cue parental guilt. Increase parental guilt when my husband
said “Oh come on, it won’t be that bad.” Sigh. I seem to be outnumbered. I did
try to weasel my way out of it in one last-ditched attempt. You see, my
mother-in-law has a very strong Mama Bear tendency that extends to each member
of her family. So I laid out my
hesitations concluding with, “See, do you want to subject your grandkids to
this?” Unfazed by my attempts she said “That doesn’t happen around here.” Damn.
Foiled again!

I gave this much thought in the coming days and finally worked out
my plan of attack. We’d go on Sunday. The Lord’s day. Certainly He wouldn’t let
mayhem and calamity befall us on His day! I determined that we’d do a little
bit of shopping beforehand and not let the kids know where we were going but
that they had to be good the whole time otherwise they wouldn’t get the
surprise. (I am not above blackmail.) The 17 1 ½ hours we spent picture
frame shopping was a real test to their desire of the unknown surprise. They
held up remarkably well. Well done kidlets. Well done.

Finally, after spending way more money on picture frames than I’ve
ever spent before, I could hold out no longer. Cue doomsday music. On the way
there we intended to keep the surprise to ramp up the effect of pulling in the
parking lot (yes, we are evil like that). We told them they would be very
excited. Bud said he just hoped it wasn’t a restaurant. Of course this made us
chuckle. We asked why a restaurant wouldn’t be exciting, wasn’t he hungry? He
said no, he was definitely not hungry (liar) and that he’d really rather just go
home. My husband, underestimating successful marketing strategies, said “Don’t
you want to go to a place where a kid can be a kid?” Cue high-pitched little
girl screams (from Bud of course). Later my husband said he didn’t expect Bud
to get the reference. Really? Sigh. Anyway, happiness and excitement ensued.

We went in the door and entered into the cordoned off entry area
that only highly trained personal or short people can bypass. The velvet
ropes. And no one was manning the turret, I mean bouncer hostess
station. Now what? (Oh, I should also mention that I am not a fan of going into
new situations where I don’t know what to expect or what is expected of me.
Give me details in advance please.) I didn’t anticipate needing instructions to
experience Chuck. I definitely didn’t expect a gated entrance. My husband and I
looked at each other as if to say, “Now what?” Thankfully the bouncer hostess
came over fairly quickly wielding her stamper. A stamper? Entrance into Chuck
E. Cheese requires a hand stamp much like the bar I went to in college. Excellent.
Shall we walk through the metal detector’s next? Thankfully they didn’t find
that step necessary (perhaps they should reconsider?). She ushered us through
the ropes and left us standing there not sure what to do next. Do we get a
table? Do we order at the fast-food looking counter? Where are my details??

The kids instantly hit the games and rides. Babe mostly stuck to
the car rides and the games of chance (pull the lever and push the button to
see how many tickets you win) but Bud explored everything. My husband and I? We
schooled the kids on skee ball when they allowed us to use one of their
tokens.

Overall, it was a fun time and, thankfully, there was no mayhem or
calamity. I do think most of that has to do with being there on a Sunday. There
was one birthday party going on and that was it (no family feud in sight). When
those kids did the cake thing Bud and Babe had the place entirely to
themselves. Can’t complain about that! What I will complain about is the prize
picking process. But that’s a whole ‘nother post!

So there was no gun violence or kidnap victims (that I know of). Is
it weird that I’m a little disappointed?

Lil...a horrifying as this sounds I actually had my birthday party at Chuck E Cheese one year ( wearing jean overalls if that helps you with a time frame) and wrapped it up with a basket n' robins ice cream one cake to finish. Will have to ind a picture for Friday Flashback....yes it is that terrifying.

I was afraid to click on the links and view the horrow of the 50 year old woman being beaten there. Insane!

That place gives me a headache and I always feel like I need to shower in Purell when I leave. At least you had the place mostly to yourselves. I once took the boys when I was 7 months pregnant with Stella...by myself...on a Saturday night. Insanity. I left crying.